Caryopteris plant named ‘Inoveris’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caryopteris×clandonensis  plant is provided that is a seedling formed following the induced mutation of the ‘Heavenly Blue’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,091). Gamma radiation was utilized to create the mutation. The new cultivar can be readily distinguished from its parent by a more upright and more uniform growth habit, darker green foliage, more intense violet-blue flowers, and shorter internodes.

Botanical/commercial classification: Caryopteris×clandonensis /Caryopteris Plant.

Variety denomination: cv. ‘Inoveris’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinct cultivar of Caryopteris×clandonensis plant is provided. Caryopteris plants are generally recognized to be a hybrid of Caryopteris incana×Caryopteris mongholica and to be a better garden plant than either parent.

The new cultivar of the present invention is a mutation derived from the ‘Heavenly Blue’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,091). When creating the new cultivar, plants of the ‘Heavenly Blue’ cultivar were irradiated with cobalt gamma rays, seeds were formed thereon following self-pollination, and seedlings were produced upon planting which were observed and studied.

The irradiation and the study of the resulting seedlings were carried out at the Institut National De La Recherche Agronomique located at Angers, France.

It was found that a single plant observed following such irradiation and the planting of seeds possessed the characteristics of the Caryopteris cultivar of the present invention. The characteristics of such new cultivar can be summarized as follows when compared to the parent ‘Heavenly Blue’ cultivar:

-   -   (a) forms a more upright and more uniform growth habit,     -   (b) displays darker green foliage,     -   (c) forms in profusion attractive flowers that are a more         intense violet-blue, and     -   (d) forms shorter internodes.

The new cultivar of the present invention well meets the needs of the horticultural industry, and is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in the landscape. It can be treated as a perennial in the garden, and gives nice coloration in the garden during late summer.

As indicated hereafter, the new cultivar can be readily distinguished from its ‘Heavenly Blue’ parent.

Also, the new cultivar of the present invention can be readily distinguished from the ‘Worcester Gold’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States). For instance, the new cultivar exhibits a more compact growth habit, displays more uniform foliage that is less jagged than that of the ‘Worcester Gold’ cultivar, displays darker green foliage that can be contrasted to the golden foliage of the ‘Worcester Gold’ cultivar, and displays shorter styles than the ‘Worcester Gold’ cultivar.

The new cultivar has been found to readily undergo asexual propagation by the use of cuttings. Such asexual propagation has been carried out at Angers, France, and has confirmed that the characteristics are firmly fixed and are transmitted from one generation to another.

The new cultivar has been named the ‘Inoveris’ cultivar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows typical blossoms and foliage of the new variety. The depicted plant was approximately three years of age and was photographed on August 1st while growing outdoors at Angers, France. The attractive intense violet-blue blossoms and the nicely contrasting green foliage are illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is based on the observation of plants of the new cultivar growing outdoors at Angers, France. Such plants had been asexually reproduced through the use of softwood cuttings and were approximately three years of age. The plants were initially grown in containers and were transplanted into the ground during the springtime where the soil was covered with polyethylene film. The soil tended to be low in organic matter and possessed a pH of approximately 6.5. Such soil tended to be wet in the winter and very dry during the summer. The color terminology utilized in the description that follows is to be accorded its ordinary dictionary significance. Reference to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, sometimes is included.

-   Origin: Seedling produced following the induced mutation of the     ‘Heavenly Blue’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,091). The ‘Heavenly     Blue’ cultivar was irradiated with gamma rays from cobalt 60. -   Parentage: Seedling of ‘Heavenly Blue’. -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Attractive flowering shrub.         -   Habit.—More upright and more uniform than the ‘Heavenly             Blue’ cultivar. The habit is more regular and less random             appearing than that of the ‘Heavenly Blue’ cultivar.         -   Height.—A mature plant commonly assumes a height of             approximately 1 m at the end of the growing season.         -   Width.—A mature plant commonly assumes a width of             approximately 75 cm at the end of the growing season.         -   Internode length.—Commonly approximately 3.7 cm on average,             and shorter than those of the parent ‘Heavenly Blue’             cultivar.         -   Configuration.—Dense and taller than it is broad.         -   Limbs.—Possess a bright aspect. -   Foliage:     -   -   Disposition.—Opposite.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Configuration.—Lanceolate, the leaf tips are variable in             shape and commonly are rounded-acuminate, and the leaf base             is broad and wedge-shaped.         -   Margins.—Generally entire, but with a few teeth that appear             at broad intervals.         -   Color.—Near Green Group 137A on the upper surface, near             Greyed-Green Group 194A on the under surface, and darker             than the ‘Heavenly Blue’ parent.         -   Fragrance.—When the leaves are crumpled they emit a strong             fragrance resembling that of terpentine oil. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Bearing.—Borne in profusion in cymes as illustrated.         -   Time of bearing.—July to October at Angers, France.         -   Buds.—Initially are near Greyed-Green Group 189C in             coloration, and with advancing maturity become a bicolored             greyed-green and violet-blue in coloration.         -   Corolla.—Approximately 8 mm in length on average, possess a             tube-like configuration at the base having a length of             approximately 4 mm, and commonly three small rounded petals             having a triangular configuration, a length of approximately             3 mm and a width of approximately 1.5 mm are present at the             end of the tube together with a larger rounded petal having             a fringed border that commonly measures approximately 4 mm×5             mm.         -   Color.—Dark violet-blue as illustrated, Violet-Blue Group             93A, with some lighting as the blossoms mature. The bloom             coloration is more intense than that of the ‘Heavenly Blue’             cultivar.         -   Sepals.—Triangular in configuration, approximately 2 mm in             length, and approximately 1 mm in width at the base.         -   Stamens.—Four per flower, and approximately 13.7 mm in             length on average.         -   Anthers.—Near Violet-Blue Group 95B in coloration.         -   Filaments.—Near Violet-Blue Group 96D in coloration.         -   Pistils.—Extremely short in length and not readily             measurable.         -   Styles.—Near Violet-Blue Group 96D in coloration.         -   Ovaries.—Near Yellow-Green Group 145A in coloration.         -   Fruit.—One per flower, and oval in shape prior to opening             and possesses four compartments.         -   Seeds.—Flat and ellipsoidal with wings at the margins. The             quantity of fruit is believed to be less than that produced             by the ‘Heavenly Blue’ cultivar; however, no formal             comparison has been undertaken. -   Growing conditions: Does well in full to moderate sun, and prefers     well-drained soil. -   Hardiness: Plants have withstood −8° C. and have not been evaluated     at cooler temperatures. -   Insect resistance: No noticeable susceptibility to insects has been     observed during observations to date. -   Disease resistance: No noticeable susceptibility to disease has been     observed during observations to date. -   Propagation: Can be readily propagated while utilizing cuttings. -   Usage: Provides attractive ornamentation when in bloom during late     summer when few other woody plants bloom. Can be grown in the ground     or in containers. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Caryopteris×clandonensis plant derived from the ‘Heavenly Blue’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,091) having the following combination of characteristics when compared to its ‘Heavenly Blue’ parent: (a) forms a more upright and more uniform growth habit, (b) displays darker green foliage, (c) forms in profusion attractive flowers that are a more intense violet-blue, and (d) forms shorter internodes; substantially as described and illustrated. 